Bail ears for containers

ABSTRACT

A bail ear made of resilient plastic material comprising a bail hook admitting aperture having an elongated figure 8 configuration which includes spaced circular openings and an intervening slot providing a constriction formed by laterally spaced opposed locking tabs which are adapted to be deflected inwardly to allow passage of a hook end of a bail into the ear pocket and snap behind the hook end to prevent its exit. The margin of the aperture is chamfered or flared outwardly to facilitate entry of the hook end into the aperture and to enhance the resiliency of the section so that the hook end is easily snapped in place. The chamfered edge also serves a further purpose of loading the load carrying wall of the ear in such a manner that it tends to curl inwardly and not outwardly as in conventional structures and, when loaded, increasing the transverse thickness of the material at the opening thus inhibiting tear outs.

United States Patent [191 Frankenberg Oct. 28, 1975 [73] Assignee: Continental Can Company, Inc.,

New York, N.Y.

22 Filed: Apr. 9, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 349,141

[44] Published under the Trial Voluntary Protest Program on January 28, 1975 as document no.

[52] U.S. Cl. 224/45 C; 224/45 P; 220/91 [51] Int. Cl. B65D 25/32 [58] Field of Search 224/45.4, 45.6, 45.14,

224/45 W, 48.4, 48 W; 220/91, 95, 96; 16/114 R, DIG. 24

Primary ExaminerAlbert J. Makay Assistant Examinerl(enneth Noland Attorney, Agent, or Firm.lohn J. Kowalik; Joseph E. Kerwin; William A. Dittmann [57] ABSTRACT A bail ear made of resilient plastic material comprising a bail hook admitting aperture having an elongated figure 8 configuration which includes spaced circular openings and an intervening slot providing a constriction formed by laterally spaced opposed locking tabs which are adapted to be deflected inwardly to allow passage of a hook end of a bail into the ear pocket and snap behind the hook end to prevent its exit. The margin of the aperture is chamfered or flared outwardly to facilitate entry of the hook end into the aperture and to enhance the resiliency of the section so that the hook end is easily snapped in place. The chamfered edge also serves a further purpose of loading the load carrying wall of the ear in such a manner that it tends to curl inwardly and not outwardly as in conventional structures and, when loaded, increasing the transverse thickness of the material at the opening thus inhibiting tear outs.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet10f2 3,915,363

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U.S. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet20f2 3,915,363

FIG. 8

BAIL EARS FOR CONTAINERS DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART The usual ear structure in metal as well as plastic pails comprises a round aperture into which the hook ends of the bail are inserted. One end of the bail is easy to insert since the other end is free and the bail can be easily oriented to thread the hook end into the aperture. However, after one end is secured, it is necessary for the operator to deform the other end of the hook, inert it into the aperture and reshape the hook. This is not only time consuming, but relies upon the skill and integrity of the operator to reshape such deformed end into its original posture. Poorly reshaped ends may snap out and also tear out the ear wall.

Other structures accommodating snapping in of bail ends are shown in US Pat. Nos. 3,329,321 and 2,571,369. In the former, a slot is formed extending from the bottom of the edge of the ear wall to a bail pintle-receiving aperture. Dividing the ear wall materially enhances the flexibility of the wall and unless additional pocketing or enlarged bearing structures are provided, such wall will not adequately secure the bail end to the pail.

The latter US. Pat. No. 2,571,369 employs a separate metallic piece which provides a one way entry groove. The separate piece is not integrated with the pail structure, must be separately made and handled and does not provide advantageous loading on the ear wall.

I SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a novel ear structure for preferably a plastic pail, such ear structure facilitating application of a bail thereto.

A general object of the invention is to provide a move ear structure which comprises an aperture formed with flanking resilient tabs adapted to be deformed to permit entry of a bail hook end therebetween' into the ear and which snap behind such hook end to restrain exit of the hook end from the ear.

A further object is to provide a novel ear wall structure incorporating means for locking a bail hook end therein and whereinsuch wall structure comprises an opening with a chamfered margin providing a surface which converges toward the inner side of the wall and forms therewith a fulcrum edge for engagement by the bail pintle which extends normal to the wall thus, when the pail is carried, the edge through engagement by the bail pintle effects a loading on the wall which tends to curl the wall inwardly and thereby resists tearing out of the wall when carrying the pail--particularly when heavily loaded.

Another object is to provide a wall structure with a novel shaped bail end admitting aperture wherein the margin of the opening is provided with a surface extending diagonally to the vertical inner and outer sides of the wall, the marginal edge being of tapered section and adapted to be deformed by being laterally bent when the pail is lifted by the bail whereby a bearing surface wider than the thickness of the ear wall is provided for the pintle.

These and other objects and advantages inherent in and encompassed by the invention will become more apparent from the specification and the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a bail used with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an edge view of the bail;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the pail through the ears showing the bail applied thereto;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section view showing the bail in carrying position and the distorted portion of the upper edge portion of the ear opening;

FIG. 4A is a vertical section of the ear;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing the disposition of the parts upon entry of the bail hook end into the ear aperture during assembly;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the ear;

FIG. 7 illustrates a modification of the invention and is a side elevational view of one of the ears; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-section taken on line 88 of FIG. 7 showing a portion of the bail.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIGS. 1-6

Having particular reference to the drawings, there is shown a pail 2 preferably made of plastic such as polyethylene, comprising a bottom 3 and a side wall 4 with a pair of diametrically oppositely disposed external ears 5, 5 formed integral with the side wall 4 adjacent to the rim 6 at its upper edge 7. I

Each ear 5 is of identical construction and is cup shaped having an outer vertical wall or web 8 joined along its marginal edges to a peripheral inverted U- shaped flange 9 which has a generally horizontal top portion 10 and a pair of side legs l2, 12 extending preferably normal to the wall 8. The inner edges of portions 10 and 12 are integrated with the wall 4 of the pail and define a downwardly open ended pocket 13 which admits the respective hook end portion 14 of a bail generally designated 15.

The bail is generally U-shaped of cylindrical wire and may have a handle 16 on its bight portion and at each end on the legs l7, 17 thereof, in addition to the hook ends 14 which are bent essentially normal to the plane of the bail, have inwardly directed coaxial pivots or pintles 18, 18 formed thereon, the pintles being located in the plane of the bail and extending between the outer ends of the respective legs and hook end portions 14. The hook ends, as best seen in FIG. 2, are preferably disposed at an obtuse included angle to the respective pintle. This disposition of the hook portion inclines the upper edge 20, described in its assembling position as shown in FIG. 5, downwardly toward the wall 8 of the respective ear so that it readily enters into the outwardly flaring chamfer surface 22 of the elongated FIG. 8 shaped opening or aperture generally designated 24.

The aperture 24 is defined by a bead 26 outlining the the opening on the external side 28 of the wall 8 of the ear and projecting outwardly therefrom to provide a reinforced thickened section.

The aperture 24 has upper and lower circular openings 30 and 32 and an interconnecting narrow rectangular slot 34 which is flanked by opposing inwardly directed flaps or tabs 36, 38. The chamfered surface, which has a transverse angle of about 15, inscribes the entire aperture and with the vertical plane inner surface 39 of the ear wall 8 forms an apical edge 40. This construction enhances the flexibility of the marginal edge portion 42 and is more readily deflectible in an inward direction and because of the ramp effect developed by the triangular section is more resistant to outward deflection.

In addition, as best seen in FIG. 4, upon lifting of the pail by the bail, the pintle portions each initially engage the apical edge which provides a fulcrum. This causes, upon further lifting, that portion to curl inwardly (compare FIGS. 4 and 4A) and loads the wall in this area in a direction toward the pail and resists outward deflection of the vertical wall 8 of the ear. Furthermore, the foregoing feature in addition to the chamfer surface provides a widened bearing surface and increased thickness in the critical area which further resists break out of the wall section. Thus thinner and less expensive materials may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 7 AND 8 In this embodiment, parts identical with the previous embodiment are identified with the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the aperture 24 is oriented with its longitudinal axis generally horizontally and the two circular openings 30, and 32 are horizontally aligned and one of these openings preferably 32 is on the center line of the bucket or pail. In all other aspects, the structure is essentially the same as in the previous embodiment. In this arrangement, the hook end 14 of the bail is in the plane of the bail. The advantage of this construction resides in being able to shift the pivot off-center into openings 30 and thus partially tipping the bucket for access thereto as when dipping a paint brush into paint contained in the pail, the pail being hung from a ladder rung via the bail. All of the features of the other embodiment prevail in deflecting the apical portion and enlarging the bearing area and in countering the outward pull on the vertical wall of the ear.

It will be understood that the foregoing disclosure is presented by way of illustration and not limitation and the scope of the invention intended to be covered hereby is to be construed as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for attaching a bail having a hook end and a pintle to a container having a side wall comprising a flexible plastic ear secured to said wall and having a web spaced outwardly of said wall, the web having inner and outer sides and an aperture for admitting the hook end therethrough and mounting said pintle therein, said aperture defined by an edge structure providing a combined guiding and bearing surface tapered inwardly from the outer surface to the inner surface, and means to counter outward pull on the web by the bail comprising an apical fulcrum section at said inner surface and deflectible inwardly by the bail upon lifting of the container by the bail.

2. The invention according to claim 1 and said apical section upon lateral deflection increasing the transverse thickness of said web about said aperture to resist tear out of the web by the bail.

3. The invention according to claim 1 and said aperture comprising a pintle-mounting round portion and an elongated slot leading therefrom, and a pair of opposing flexible tabs of said plastic material flanking said slot and having edge portions of triangular crosssection tapering away from the web and toward said inner side of the web whereby being more flexible to permit ingress of said hook end into the ear therebetween with attendant deflection thereof than exit of said hook end.

4. The invention according to claim 3 and said aperture having said round portion at one end of the slot and having another round portion at the other end of the slot.

5. The invention according to claim 4 and said slot and round portions oriented generally horizontally and one of said round portions being located on the center line of the container, said pintle portion of the bail adapted to be positioned in either round portion by being shifted laterally through said slot and deflecting said tabs and in one of said round portions supporting the container in upright position and in the other round portion supporting the container in tilted position.

6. Means for attaching a bail having a hook end and a pintle to a container having a side wall comprising:

a flexible plastic ear secured to said wall and having a web spaced outwardly of said wall, the web having inner and outer sides and having an aperture extending through the web from the outer to the inner side thereof and having enlarged end portions and a constricted intermediate portion including tab means defining at least one side of the constricted portion and deflectible laterally of the web to permit ingress of said hook end through said aperture with respect to said ear, said pintle adapted to be positioned in either enlarged portion and shiftable from one enlarged portion to the other by deflection of said tab means, and means to counter the outward pull on the web by the bail comprising an apical fulcrum section at the inner side of said web and deflectible inwardly by the bail upon lifting of the container by the bail.

7. The invention according to claim 6 and said hook end being disposed at an angle to said pintle and positioned for ingress into the ear for assembly therewith and having a free end presenting an end surface diverging away from an opposing edge of the aperture as the attached end of the hook end is positioned adjacent to the opposite end of the aperture, the inclination of end surface facilitating wedging the hook end through said aperture by distorting the aperture at the opposing edge as said hook end is passed through the aperture.

8. The invention according to claim 6 wherein said bail is formed of round wire of a diameter substantially equal to that of said enlarged portions and wherein said aperture is dimensioned of slightly less length than that of the hook end and said diameter of said pintle, said pintle adapted to be positioned in assembly in one of the enlarged end portions and said hook end extending therefrom to the other enlarged portion and thereupon said hook end adapted to be shifted transversely of the web and deflecting said tab means and with said end surface distorting an edge of said other enlarged portion of the aperture whereby said hook end is passed through the aperture and inserted into the ear and said pintle positioned in said one enlarged end portion of the aperture, said pintle adapted to be shifted lengthwise of said slot by deflecting said tab means and thereupon passed through .the slot into the other enlarged portion of the aperture.

9. The invention according to claim 8 wherein said enlarged portions are disposed in vertically spaced relation.

10. The invention according to claim 8 wherein said enlarged portions are displaced horizontally. 

1. Means for attaching a bail having a hook end and a pintle to a container having a side wall comprising a flexible plastic ear secured to said wall and having a web spaced outwardly of said wall, the web having inner and outer sides and an aperture for admitting the hook end therethrough and mounting said pintle therein, said aperture defined by an edge structure providing a combined guiding and bearing surface tapered inwardly from the outer surface to the inner surface and means to counter outward pull on the web by the bail comprising an apical fulcrum section at said inner surface and deflectible inwardly by the bail upon lifting of the container by the bail.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 and said apical section upon lateral deflection increasing the transverse thickness of said web about said aperture to resist tear out of the web by the bail.
 3. The invention according to claim 1 and said aperture comprising a pintle-mounting round portion and an elongated slot leading therefrom, and a pair of opposing flexible tabs of said plastic material flanking said slot and having edge portions of triangular cross-section tapering away from the web and toward said inner side of the web whereby being more flexible to permit ingress of said hook end into the ear therebetween with attendant deflection thereof than exit of said hook end.
 4. The invention according to claim 3 and said aperture having said round portion at one end of the slot and having another round portion at the other end of the slot.
 5. The invention according to claim 4 and said slot and round portions oriented generally horizontally and one of said round portions being located on the center line of the container, said pintle portion of the bail adapted to be positioned in either round portion by being shifted laterally through said slot and deflecting said Tabs and in one of said round portions supporting the container in upright position and in the other round portion supporting the container in tilted position.
 6. Means for attaching a bail having a hook end and a pintle to a container having a side wall comprising: a flexible plastic ear secured to said wall and having a web spaced outwardly of said wall, the web having inner and outer sides and having an aperture extending through the web from the outer to the inner side thereof and having enlarged end portions and a constricted intermediate portion including tab means defining at least one side of the constricted portion and deflectible laterally of the web to permit ingress of said hook end through said aperture with respect to said ear, said pintle adapted to be positioned in either enlarged portion and shiftable from one enlarged portion to the other by deflection of said tab means, and means to counter the outward pull on the web by the bail comprising an apical fulcrum section at the inner side of said web and deflectible inwardly by the bail upon lifting of the container by the bail.
 7. The invention according to claim 6 and said hook end being disposed at an angle to said pintle and positioned for ingress into the ear for assembly therewith and having a free end presenting an end surface diverging away from an opposing edge of the aperture as the attached end of the hook end is positioned adjacent to the opposite end of the aperture, the inclination of end surface facilitating wedging the hook end through said aperture by distorting the aperture at the opposing edge as said hook end is passed through the aperture.
 8. The invention according to claim 6 wherein said bail is formed of round wire of a diameter substantially equal to that of said enlarged portions and wherein said aperture is dimensioned of slightly less length than that of the hook end and said diameter of said pintle, said pintle adapted to be positioned in assembly in one of the enlarged end portions and said hook end extending therefrom to the other enlarged portion and thereupon said hook end adapted to be shifted transversely of the web and deflecting said tab means and with said end surface distorting an edge of said other enlarged portion of the aperture whereby said hook end is passed through the aperture and inserted into the ear and said pintle positioned in said one enlarged end portion of the aperture, said pintle adapted to be shifted lengthwise of said slot by deflecting said tab means and thereupon passed through the slot into the other enlarged portion of the aperture.
 9. The invention according to claim 8 wherein said enlarged portions are disposed in vertically spaced relation.
 10. The invention according to claim 8 wherein said enlarged portions are displaced horizontally. 